work in progress

I'm going to have to count this one as my number ten in the 30 and 30 challenge. This is the underpainting for a pastel. I don't work with pastels often at all and this paper is very challenging. Not sure whether I will finish it up or throw it in the trash.
 

Essence

Number1 Sketch

Number 3 First attempt/ oil

Number 2 Inked

Number 4 Attempt/Oil

Number 5 Oil

Almost Finished!  Oil on Canvas

     I am being mentored by Pattie Ann Hale for another 3 months.  She's an amazing worship artist, whom I met and took a couple of classes from at the Gathering of the Artisan's in NC a couple of years ago.  She's assigned weekly assignments and this one has by far been the most difficult for me, but has truly been such a great learning experience. 

   My main quest over the last year has been to figure out who I am as an artist, and what my personal style is.  Her instruction has been on the spiritual side as it relates to art,  always relying on Holy Spirit to guide, and reveal.  This assignment started with an early morning doodle, which is number 1.  After analyzing it, she asked me to seek the Lord to reveal the meaning behind it.  It took me all week because I just wasn't getting anything.  Not until the very moment that I pulled out my colored inks to add a little color to it!  Then, I heard clearly!  (I'll keep that person message to myself, at least for now).  

   The next step was to try to create the "essence" with paint.  I had a very busy week, with very little painting time, so I  pulled out an old canvas to see if I could figure out what to do.  (At that time, I really wasn't terribly excited about the project).  I realized after  about 4 hours of painting that the previously applied texture on the canvas was not going to work for me.  This was only days before the project was due!  The night before it was due, I gave up the large old canvas and decided to meet the deadline, I would just do it small.  I'd run all over the place, given flight instruction and a million other things.  It was late and I was tired. I didn't have the brushes I needed and was just a little frustrated. That's Number 4.  

   When Pattie saw it, she asked me if I was frustrated or what emotion was having when I painted it.  She then gave me some pointers on getting in the Spirit rather than just painting.  My assignment for this week was to try to fix it...to go back into the emotion, back into the Spirit, and paint the ESSENCE.    I believe that I have!  I was at such peace when I began this last version, and my sweet hubby sat in the studio with me the whole evening, talking and giving me that much needed quality time.  I had some soft music going, and throughly enjoyed the process!  I have really learned a lesson!  I never ever, realized how much emotion really plays out in a painting, until now! 

  No wonder some paintings done during worship turn out so amazing!  No wonder just painting a pretty picture during worship doesn't carry the anointing!  I think I'm learning!  I might not be finished.  Time will tell.  Or, Pattie will!  Have you ever thought about the emotion going through the artist that painted the picture, or just the emotion that runs through you as you look at it?

"Sail Away"

"Sail Away"

16x20 Watercolor on Arches Paper

Purchase this Painting

          Have you ever wanted to just sail away?  I sure have.  I've kind of wanted to do it this summer.  It's been a challenge.  It's been good, now that most of it is behind me.  Have you ever looked back and wished that you would have just sailed through the hard times instead of getting stuck in them?  That's me!  Hind sight is always better, isn't it?  When I was so tired...I wish I would have just "sahhhhed".  But, still the journey was all in all good.  Memories were made, and things ran pretty smoothly, other than an emergency room visit, and fast doctor visit, a few fowl words grumbled back and forth with my beloved in the stress of the moment.  I might not want to ever do it the same way, but I wouldn't give up the cherished moments.  The ones like a grandson sneaking into my room in the late night, dragging his bedding to sleep beside me on the floor...reaching up to grab my hand and hold it.  Or, the late night prayers.  I cherish the KP duty...where most of my grandchildren participated in a hurried dance of washing, drying and putting away of the dishes.  The early morning walks with the dogs were fun, and so were the one on one, hand in hand walks with a grandson; as we "snuck" away from the bunch.  All the questions about God, and the early morning devotions and prayer.  My goodness I could just relive all of those.   The cakes that were baked...the literal hours that it took to get the recipe read, and the batter in the oven.  Oh my.  Learning to sweep the floor correctly....and how to dust furniture with missing a spot...right down to emptying all of the trashes correctly...make the beds...cook Ramen... I sure hope that my babies always remember the memories that we made, and not the frustrations that we had.  I bet they will!  I know I sure will.  I am blessed beyond measure!  There is always time to "Sail away", and never enough time to enjoy your family!

His Love

"His Love"

22x28 Alcohol Ink on Yupo

SOLD

     This one was such a joy to paint.  It started out with a few days of travel and no time to think.  That was followed by a house full of little grandsons with all the joy that comes with it.  As I entered the doors of the sanctuary this morning, I felt a certain amount of peace.  The peace that "knows" that something will happen as worship begins.  A friend came up and asked me if I had a direction for the painting, and I just had to say, "no, but something would come".  It did.  Jesus came.  There was a time during my worship that my hands shook so bad that I could barely get the eye dropper into the alcohol.  I determined to use that to my advantage.  As tall as the mountains are, as low as the valley's are, His love is mine.  This one sold immediately.